Event 4 was one of two new tournaments on Sunday afternoon and the two-day tournament easily surpassed its $50,000 guaranteed prize pool. The tournament made it into the money at the end of Day 1 with 15 players returning and Zachary Mullennix had the shortest stack.

But that did not stop him and he came back to win it all for his first career WSOP Circuit ring after a big run.

“On my second hand I got a double-up,” Mullennix said. “Then I grinded it up from there. ”

The $600 buy-in tournament drew 137 entries to create a prize pool worth $70,555. Day 1 came to end shortly after the field made it into the money.

Mullennix had to deal with a lot of tough players on Day 2 including Kharlin Sued, Arkadiy Tsinis, and Jeffrey Trudeau Jr. He was never the chip leader until they were five-handed when Scott Harwood was eliminated. Mullennix further cemented his lead when his ace-jack outflopped two-time WSOPC winner Russell Sullivan to put the final table three-handed.

Matthew Lambrecht went out in the third, his second third-place finish of the series, and good enough to put him atop the Casino Championship race with four tournaments in the bag.

Mullennix and David Berman, who began the day with the biggest stack, traded the heads-up lead before Mullennix made a good river call to win all the chips and earn the $19,758 first place prize.

It was a great way to start the new week and lead us into the Main Event in a few days.

With Zachary Mullennix on the button with the chip lead, he saw a flop with David Berman. Both players checked and the turn was . Berman checked, Mullennix bet 100,000 and Berman check-raised to 335,000.

Mullennix thought for a minute and called before the river. Berman almost immediately shoved for 760,000 and Mullennix went into a deeper tank.

“I can’t really beat anything,” Mullennix told Berman.

That was not correct.

After another minute, Mullennix tossed in some chips and Berman said “good call”.

Berman: Mullennix:

Kings up was good against queen-high and Mullennix earned his first WSOP Circuit ring along with $19,758 while Berman took home a $12,210 consolation prize.

David Berman opened to 62,000 from his button and Zachary Mullennix called to see the flop. Mullennix checked, Berman bet 50,000 and Mullennix called to see the turn.

Another check from Mullennix and Berman bet 110,000. Mullennix called, the river came , and Berman announced all in before Mullennix had a chance to act. He checked and quickly called Berman’s shove for 576,000.

Zachary Mullennix opened to 65,000 from the button and Matthew Lambrecht moved all in from the small blind. David Berman folded his big and Mullennix asked for a rough count. It was in the ~600,000 range and Mullennix called.

Lambrecht: Mullennix:

Lambrecht was in a lot of trouble but picked up more outs on the flop. The turn was no help, Lambrecht called for a deuce, but was left with the river to exit in third place.

Zachary Mullennix opened the action from the button, David Berman defended his big blind, and the flop came . Both players checked, and Berman checked again after the turn. Mullennix bet 40,000 and Berman fired all in for 298,000. After confirming the count, Mullennix called.

Berman: Mullennix:

Mullennix was ahead for the knockout but Berman had eleven outs; the open-ended straight draw and over card. It was the that made him the bigger two pair for the double up.